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March 2017
Hello everyone
Autumn has arrived in the nick of time. As the days cool and the nights draw out, our hemisphere of Earth gives a sigh of relief. For regions south of latitude 28, at least there’s been enough rainfall to make autumn a growth time. The same cannot be said of drought-affected Queensland, alas.
The hot summer just past has been a severe test of the legendary resilience which biodynamics is supposed to endow upon farms and gardens. When the heat comes on day after day with a vengeance, cattle cower in the shade, plants wilt, fruit and vegetables ‘cook’ unless grown under shade cloth. In the BAA office garden, only the heat-tolerant vegies have survived and flourished.
This is probably the best time of year to get serious about spraying out a soil preparation. Autumn and spring are the ideal times to treat your soil foodweb to a biodynamic tonic. This is best done on a descending Moon - during the last week of March, April or May. To balance this, the atmospheric preparation, horn silica (501) should go out during the ascending Moon period of whichever month you choose.
To assist you to put out these preparations, please see below for our Autumn Special.
Remember that putting out a soil spray always gives a boost to your garden or farm. And not just in a physical way. Everyone who takes biodynamics seriously reports that applying a biodynamic preparation results in a good feeling, a sort of zing. You can feel and see it in various ways. For instance your home feels more homely. Your garden feels more welcoming. Your fields seem to glow. The animals look healthier and more content. Birds are more attracted to your property. Your step and your mood feel lighter. You yourself feel more energised.
Don’t forget about our liquid ocean products. They will give your autumn pastures, crops and vegies a welcome boost. Or our Biodynamic Paste, which will be welcomed by vines, shrubs and fruit trees, especially as the annual pruning program gets underway. Also, our Biodynamic Compost Balls will give a powerful boost when added to compost heaps and liquid manures. To order go to our website or ring the office on 02 6655 0566.
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Autumn Special
50% Discount on 501 for the equivalent area of the soil preparation of your choice:
Horn Manure (500);or
Soil Activator; or
Combined Soil Preparation.
Offer is available until 31st April 2017. To order, please ring the office 02 6655 0566.
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Liquid Soil Activator
For smaller areas – backyard up to 1 or 2ha – you might consider trialing our new product, Pre-stirred Soil Activator. Being pre-potentised, it can be diluted and used without the usual biodynamic stirring. Just add to your bucket or sprayer, mix well, and flick or spray out in larger droplets than a mist. This preparation holds its potency for at least two months if stored in a cool place away from electrical fields, so there’s no panic to use it immediately upon receipt.
BAA will send free 1 litre samples (enough for 3ha) of Liquid Soil Activator for the cost of postage ($15.50 Australia wide) with a feedback form which needs to be filled in and returned to the office, to the first 20 members who wish to trial it. Please ring us on 02 66550 5566 if you want to participate.
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Conversing with nature -
a phenomenological engagement with nature
Agriculture affects all fields of human endeavour. In turn everyone involved as farmers, gardeners and consumers have shared interests. Likewise, everyone benefits from parks and natural landscapes. Both modified and natural environments are involved in human nourishment, whether physical or spiritual.
Conversing with Nature is an opportunity for BAA members to come and participate in a week of engaging, sharing, learning and celebrating together the world we live in.
You will find details and booking information on the Heartwood website: http://heartwoodsiteworks.com.au/
Venue: Shearwater, The Mullumbimby Steiner School
Dates: 18th – 22nd April 2017
Venue: Perth Waldorf School
Dates: 25th – 28th April 2017
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 Biodynamic nutrition and gardening courses
Run by the Biodynamics in Community Group in Warranwood Vic
Sessions in 2017:
27th April – 22nd June
20th July – 7th September
Click here to go to their website
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Preferred dates for biodynamic sprays in Autumn 2017
Sequential spraying to encourage rain – buy a Drought Breaker Kit.
In case of a prolonged dry spell try a sequential spray when the Moon is in a water sign and preferably near Full Moon.
Sequential spray dates for Autumn 2017
- April 4th - 6th , 14th – 16th
- May 11th-13th
Moon opposition Saturn dates for spraying out biodynamic preparations (Eastern Australian Standard Time)
- 3rd April at 12.42am
- 22nd May at 7.38pm
Moon Descending periods – an alternative soil spraying time, when the Moon’s influences are working below the earth in the soil:
- April 17th - 30th
- May 15th – 28th
Moon Ascending period – an alternative time to spray out the atmospheric preparations when the Moons influence is more above the soil:
- April 3rd - 17th
- May 1st – 14th; 29th- 31st
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Which manure do I use?
When as a gardener or farmer we have the luxury of choice in selecting a manure to use, there are certain basics to keep in mind.
Firstly, always try to avoid using fresh manure in the garden or over the fields. It is far better to compost manure either on its own or with a range of added plant matter, sea minerals, clay, rock dust etc.
Wherever possible, I have always tried to source and mix the manure of various animals, as the combination I consider beneficial. Whether or not you have a choice of manure type, here is some guidance on their particular merits.
Horse: best for leafy vegetables – relatively high in nitrogen – heats up compost heaps markedly – imparts a kind of ‘racy’ gesture to a garden.
Pig: best for root vegetables – quite high in nitrogen – is putrid and smelly, so put straight into compost heap.
Poultry (includes chooks, ducks, turkeys, pet birds): best for fruit and seeds – very high in nitrogen and phosphorus – fresh, can ‘burn’ plants unless composted – pelletised ‘chicken’ manure is sort of ok to use directly in soil, but is better added to a compost heap.
Cow: best all rounder for all crops – relatively low in nitrogen, but the queen of manures as it is imbued with life in the form of diverse bacteria, and fungi-promoting enzymes – old cow patties, crushed or ground up can be added to soil without too much detriment, but avoid doing so with fresh manure.
Sheep: good for most vegetables – similar nitrogen level to pig – if in original pellets, best to crush before mixing in soil – the older the better, usually from under shearing sheds.
Alpaca: best for leafy vegetables – very high in nitrogen as animals urinate on their dung heaps – very easy to gather, but is moist and messy to handle – best composted. (JH)
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Hear HRH Prince of Wales on biodynamics
Follow the link to see the video of the Prince of Wales giving the opening address at the International Biodynamic conference, Dornach, Switzerland, in February this year. Click here
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Biodynamic farming is on the rise - but how effective is it?
Cheryl Kemp, longtime dedicated member of BAA, has sent us a good news link worthy of passing on to everyone. To read the article, please Click here
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Why burn or chip when you can hugel?
Recycle all your woody debris using a long-cycle composting system. With its obvious benefits of building fertility, limiting and recycling waste, providing habitat for numerous species of soil organisms, skinks, beetles etc, stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion, serving as planting beds at a comfortable height for access, and possibly serving as sediment traps and a means of water retention similar to swales, hugel mounds are a wonderful alternative to burning (smoke and CO2 pollution) or chipping (machine wear and tear/using petroleum fuel). Click here to read the Acres USA article about this well-tried German system.
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Position vacant
Experienced Ranch Manager wanted for complex ranch/ organic farm/ eco-lodge operation on Molokai, Hawaii. Business-minded, experience in semi-tropical ecosystems and sustainable land management necessary. Competitive salary/ benefits.
Send resume to: assistant@puuohoku.com
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